# Grammar fiends: question about pluralizing an unusual case **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2015, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589 "2015-07-19T07:01:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/1 "2015-07-19T07:01:59Z")
I am helping a friend write his book about repairing old radios. Probably my biggest pet peeve with respect to English usage is that of extraneous/erroneous apostrophes. I especially hate to see them used in simple pluralization, making it look like a possessive case. (i.e., “ **apostrophe’s**.”) I don’t even like to use them when referring to a given decade – I will just put “ **1970s**.” But the problem I’m running into here is when the text refers to vacuum tubes in the plural by their specific part numbers, because those part numbers almost always have both numbers and letters. Hence, although the letters in these designations are always capitalized, I feel it is unclear to refer to, say, “ **6SL7s**.” So I’m wondering, what is the convention here? Should I just try to always steer the sentence around so that it’s referring to specific tubes in the singular? Because I’d really hate to have to put “ **6SL7’s**.” Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/2 "2015-07-19T07:55:17Z")
You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place here because this sort of situation, generally speaking, is an exception to the no-apostrophes-in-plurals rule. That is, using an apostrophe here to make the plural is accepted by most style guides. That said, it’s not required to do so either. I would just go ahead and use the apostrophes here, but if there’s anything I understand it’s quirks like this. If I happened to have this particular quirk, I might say something early on like: “Whether you have one 6SL7 or two 6SL7s, the procedure is the same,” and then hope the reader takes the hint. Or if that sounds too stilted for you, just refer to 6SL7s as “them.” This, most often, isn’t all that hard to do. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/3 "2015-07-19T08:07:02Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > So I’m wondering, what is the convention here? The important thing is not what the convention is…The important thing is to communicate clearly. A sentence like " keep the 6SL7s protected from static electricity" is confusing. It makes me think there is a part called 6SL7s, and maybe I should treat it differently than a part called 6SL7. You must separate the plual s from the part number. I would use the apostrophe. It’s clear to your readers.( And I’ll bet that most of your readers are not grammar fiends and won’t care about conventions, anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/4 "2015-07-19T10:02:43Z")
One possibility is to make the part number an adjective, e.g., “Keep the 6SL7 tubes protected …” ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/5 "2015-07-19T10:26:46Z")
Why are you even considering an apostrophe? just write ‘6SL7 vacuum tubes’ if there’s the possibility of confusion, otherwise just use the plain **s**. Quoth the [Oxford Dictionary](http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/apostrophe), bolding mine: > [@](#): > > Apostrophes and plural forms > > The general rule is that you should not use an apostrophe to form the plurals of nouns, abbreviations, or dates made up of numbers: just add -s (or -es, if the noun in question forms its plural with -es). For example: > > euro > > euros > > (e.g. The cost of the trip is 570 euros.) > > pizza > > pizzas > > (e.g. Traditional Italian pizzas are thin and crisp.) > > apple > > apples > > (e.g. She buys big bags of organic apples and carrots.) > > MP > > MPs > > (e.g. Local MPs are divided on this issue.) > > 1990 > > 1990s > > (e.g. The situation was different in the 1990s.) > > It’s very important to remember this grammatical rule. > > There are one or two cases in which it is acceptable to use an apostrophe to form a plural, purely for the sake of clarity: > > you can use an apostrophe to show the plurals of **single** letters: > > I’ve dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s. > > Find all the p’s in appear. > > you can use an apostrophe to show the plurals of **single** numbers: > > Find all the number 7’s. > > These are the only cases in which it is generally considered acceptable to use an apostrophe to form plurals: remember that an apostrophe should never be used to form the plural of ordinary nouns, names, abbreviations, or numerical dates. Note that your usage of **1970s** rather than **1970’s** is correct. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/6 "2015-07-19T12:07:31Z")
Remember that every time you use an apostrophe to create a plural, a puppy dies. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/7 "2015-07-19T13:02:36Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Remember that every time you use an apostrophe to create a plural, a puppy dies. A really, really, really cute and exceptionally loving puppy. ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/8 "2015-07-19T13:08:20Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Remember that every time you use an apostrophe to create a plural, a puppy dies. So sad that so many puppy’s have died due to so many word’s that have unnecessary apostrophe’s. Ha! take that PETA ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/9 "2015-07-19T13:22:54Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > The important thing is not what the convention is…The important thing is to communicate clearly. > > A sentence like " keep the 6SL7s protected from static electricity" is confusing. It makes me think there is a part called 6SL7s, and maybe I should treat it differently than a part called 6SL7. I agree with this. If you can’t (perhaps it would be overuse) just say “6SL7 tubes,” then use the convention that provides clarity. And I hate extraneous apostrophes. I once thought that commas and periods inside quotation marks (in the U.S.) would follow a similar fate, out of necessity, in the computer age. If you wrote in a manual: > [@](#): > > In the first field on the entry screen, type “ABC.” …what would someone following the instruction in a literal manner enter in the data field? “ABC”? Or “ABC.”? But apparently this hypothetical ambiguity was not a concern to anyone but me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/10 "2015-07-19T13:43:50Z")
More and more of us in the computer industry have taken to writing it as “ABC”. We’ll eventually turn that supertanker. But it’ll take awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/11 "2015-07-19T13:46:20Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > More and more of us in the computer industry have taken to writing it as “ABC”. We’ll eventually turn that supertanker. But it’ll take awhile. If that becomes the convention, we’ll have a rare grammatical rule that is both standard and logical. Until then–it’s madness, I tell you! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/12 "2015-07-19T13:49:14Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > One possibility is to make the part number an adjective, e.g., “Keep the 6SL7 tubes protected …” I’d go with this. Be precise. It’s never wrong. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/13 "2015-07-20T04:48:18Z")
Thanks everyone! Your advice and opinions have been most helpful, and reassuring. I’ve pretty much been doing the same thing that **Giles** suggested, but I know that sooner or later a sentence will come up where that won’t work. It’s nice to have educated input in this kind of quandary. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/14 "2015-07-20T05:29:48Z")
Would it help if the part number is in italics? Or is that a worse mistake? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/15 "2015-07-20T06:17:38Z")
I think **Giles** is right - in fact, I think there’s a possible case for the singular being exactly the same as the plural; “The 6SL7 is faulty” / “I have ordered a dozen 6SL7” - especially as this is a technical context - so the text in which the term is embedded should be clear and precise too. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/16 "2015-07-20T06:39:53Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Remember that every time you use an apostrophe to create a plural, a puppy dies. I hate dog’s. How many time’s must I use apostrophe’s incorrectly to exterminate every one of the fucker’s in all the city’s and state’s of the U’S’. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/17 "2015-07-20T06:53:11Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I hate dog’s. How many time’s must I use apostrophe’s incorrectly to exterminate every one of the fucker’s in all the city’s and state’s of the U’S’. Unfortunately, it’s only the cute little puppies that die. You can throw as many apostrophes as you like at the ugly fully-grown dogs, and it won’t hurt them. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/18 "2015-07-20T07:36:19Z")
Ah, apostrophe do’s and don’ts. Wait: apostrophe dos and don’ts. Er… apostrophe do’s and don’t’s? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/19 "2015-07-20T07:56:06Z")
… does and don’ts … ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589/20 "2015-07-20T14:37:38Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > … It’s nice to have educated input in this kind of quandary. And, failing that, you have _US_! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-fiends-question-about-pluralizing-an-unusual-case/725589.md?page=2)